Exhibit 99.2
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David W. Kiser
Director of Investor Relations
Columbia Sportswear Company
(503) 985-4584 |
COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY
ANNOUNCES INITIATION OF QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
PORTLAND, Ore. — October 26, 2006 — Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM), a global leader
in the active outdoor apparel and footwear industries, today announced that its board of directors
has authorized the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend, and the Company declared a quarterly
dividend of $0.14 per share of common stock to be paid on November 30, 2006 to its shareholders of
record at the close of business on November 16, 2006.
Tim Boyle, Columbia’s president and chief executive officer, commented, “We have demonstrated from
our historical results that we have the ability to return value to our shareholders in multiple
ways, through investment in organic growth, through opportunistic acquisitions and through share
repurchases. We believe our business provides sufficient free cash flow to continue to invest in
our growth strategies and also to pay a dividend to our shareholders. The initiation of this
dividend underscores our commitment to deploy our resources strategically to return value to our
shareholders.”
Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design,
sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest
outerwear manufacturers in the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the
Company has developed an international reputation for quality, performance, functionality and
value. The Company manages a portfolio of outdoor brands including Columbia Sportswear, Mountain
Hardwear, Sorel, Montrail and Pacific Trail. To learn more about Columbia, please visit the
Company’s website at www.columbia.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including Mr. Boyle’s statements regarding
cash flow and the Company’s ability to invest in growth strategies while paying a dividend. Actual
results could differ materially from those projected in these and other forward-looking statements
as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in this press
release, those described in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2006, and other risks and uncertainties that have been or may be described from time to time in
other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 10-K. Risk
factors that may affect our future performance include international risks, including changes in
quotas and tariffs or other duties, political instability in foreign markets, exchange rate
fluctuations, and trade disruptions; our ability to attract and retain key employees; unfavorable
economic conditions generally and weakness in consumer confidence; the financial health of our
customers; our ability to effectively deliver our products to customers in a timely manner; our
reliance on product acceptance by consumers; the effects of unseasonable weather (including, for
example, warm weather in the winter and cold weather in the spring, which affects demand for the
Company’s products); our ability to integrate and manage acquired businesses; our dependence on
independent manufacturers and suppliers; the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts;